Apparatus for supporting and washing venetian blinds



Feb. 19, 1952 w. s. DE HART v2,586,620

APPARATUS PoR SUPPORTING AND WASHING VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Jan. 2s, 1948 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 I I l m` s l Feb. 19, 1952 w. s. DE HART 2,586,620

APPARATUS PoR SUPPORTING AND WASHING VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Jan. 25, 1948 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Patented Feb. 19, 1952 2,586,620

UNITED *STAT-Es PATE-Lm fofFfFilfcE :,APPARATUSFOR SUPPORTJNGAND s WASHING. VENETIAN .BLINDS fwiluanffszine Hei-zylrhilaelphia;Pa. ..Applieetienaenuary 23,1948, serial l1re-.4,1102

1 s'cieims. (012134499) "1 'f2 VVThis .inVentiOnreIates tonew. andfusefulsim- .Eig--- l-zisa view inplan ofL Washing and clean- V. fprovements in-washingand cleaningapparatus, lring,...apparatus "made Vin..accor,dance"withtl'ie Vand more particularly relatestouapparatus .es- .'spresentinvention of whicha vportionofthe top ..pecially adapted-for thewwashinge'and ...cleaning .-orfcoveramernber.ehasbeen cut awayto better of .Venetian'fblindsvand analogous articles. "lv illustratecertainstructural .detailsof the appa- :Thecleaning of Venetian blinds has for many .--.ratus; Y years.v presented a substantial problem and .been Eig. 2tis .a.sectional. view taken on line"22, xeantonerouseburden bothto housewives. inthe ..1ig.A 1; `..-home.:and. topersons. responsiblefor..the clean- Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectionalview online .ingu-and 1maintenance of largeolce buildings, 01'.3.e3,:.1fig.2; and andthe alike. where such .blinds .are` employed. Fig.-.-4-.is.A a. View .inplan of ...the apparatus. with .fPriorto thepresent invention thecleaning of thecover removed.therefromfshowingan 'alterna- Venetian blinds necessarily has been done manu- ;-.tive.- arrangement of-certain ofCthelbipingiiithe A.a.lly, cleaning. each individual Slat one .atfa time 1 device. by means of a cloth, brush orfother handirnple- 5 Referring` nowfmoreparticularly .to the drawment. To properlyclean. a Venetianblind of r ,ings,=fwashing..and cleaning apparatus .made acaveragesize .in this .manner requires` about one ..frcording..to,-thef present...inv.ention may comprise ...and one-halfhours.time.and..severa1.dayswork -....a rectangular-.casing l including a container poroften isjrequred to clean .the .Venetianblinds of .ation 2 ...having a top..ccver....member 3 Iwhich is an average size house. Onf the otherv hand' in "exhinged-C-thereto .as indicated. at"4,. andarranged 'the case of large office andlike buildings Ywhere toA overliethe upper...edges.A of the front, rear and th'e' Venetian' blinds canbe 'cleaned'only at night ....endwalls of..said .container portion 2 as shown. ."Whenthe offices are unoccupied,"the"time re- Inl-the illustrated; embodiment. of the invention, i quired'td clean each blind'by' customary manual ..the. container portion .2. and. cover3fof thecasprocedures has made thetask almo'stprohibitive, 'i3-.ing .I are eshownaslfabrcated. of. Wood andV -Dr0` Yi'economically,"i and' substantially impossibleI4 of vided internally thereofwith water'and corrosioncornpletion resistant' linings. 5 .andf 6.respe`ctivelyQof jsheet sWithf-theforegoing inmindythepresentin- :metal orfother suitable.materiaLalthoughit is '"vention hasr for its principal*objectA theproviunderstood that thecasing Lca'nbe .constructed 7H`s'on'-'of-n'ov`el 'apparatus'for washing andcleaning;y entirely of metal or other*suitablematerial such '1Vene1';ianV` blindswhich' is-zmerabi'e to' thoroughly ea. for. example. stainless' Steel orthelikewash andclean a Venetianblind'in'a'period of w-A suitable .gasket orthe like' 1 preferably is "Stime that-'is but a'fra'ction'of'lthe time *previously interposed between the-Cover 3 eind ciltainer required forthe manual cleaningof-such-blinds. l DOT-tion' 2..0f-6he Casing lir1-0rde1f-t0wpr0lfide a .Another Object @fiche invention xis-tofpl'jovide .Q gefluidetightcseal. therebetween when'the cover is mzn'oivel apparatusor.washngand cleaningfVene; closed, and...thecover, Smay. be;secured in closed .tianfblinds which eliminates allmanuali cleaning l-100St0r1 A1113011thecontainer -prtorif 2,' for ex- :"operations. H`.-.amplel.bymeans'oi swivel. bolts 8 and wing nuts V:Another object of.-.thev=present invention is to l 9. onsaidfcover"whichY cooperatively engage suitprovide nove] Washing and cleaning.apvparatliws1 40...able.S1otted.:plates..10. affixed to. the top f .the for :Venetianblinds which performs a substan- --COVe1'vmmber 3- i-The Casing plfebly SSHD- tially superior cleaning operation upon the'blinds ported....in a waist-high WrkIlg. vDSlSiOIi.` by Vthanr it is possible to do by.manually cleaning .f-meaIlSOfva Structural f-ramewikll. 'thetblindsin accordance witheonventionaiprgac- According...toJtheepresentY invention"there is ti'ce's'. Y .arrangedinternallyfof 'the v4casing' I.. on .Lthbot- Afurther'objecto'f the-invention is to provide .-ftem. 0f lthecnteinereportio 2..'thereof,.afsystem 1 --washing and cleaningapparatus jhaving the'fea- Offen'ediSChargeePiDeS Comprising' acerltrlppe -.'"tures and advantages set forth `which is of-'r'ela- A2which.extends.longitdially fthesllg l tively inexpensive-...andasimplified, construction' ,.,.and..a, plurality off. laterallvextendingf branch :zand Awhich is. .both-economicalgand emcient ,in` 50`xsections.el3earrangedI.at.,selected...intervals.along fffioperationand use. ethefpipc-,f` I2. Yllhecentralpipe.landthelateral 'lheseand other objects ofethezinventiomuand ...branches I3. ofetheairedischarge vsystem-are each .theevariousfeatures and-details of thefconstruc- "f-provdedinetheiz uppenportionswithfan:aligned .etion-andoperation. thereotfare.A hereinafter... set series of small air discharge ports or openings forth and described with..referencez toethesack-l 55e9l4ewhich.anearrangedat suitablyffspacedeintercompanying drawings, in which: vals lengthwise of the pipe and sections. The

lateral pipe sections I3 are closed at their outer ends by suitable caps or the like I5 and air is admitted to the pipe I2 and its lateral branches I3 from a compressed air supply line I6 under the control of a valve I'I.

In addition to the described air discharge system provided at the bottom of the casing interior, there is arranged at the underside of the casing cover member 3 a discharge system for a cleaning and washing liquid, for example, water, which comprises a longitudinally extending pipe I8 having laterally extending branch sections I9 arranged at intervals lengthwise of the cas-` ing as shown. This central pipel I8 and the' branch sections I9 of the liquid system may be arranged so that they directly overlie the pipe 3 and sections I3 of the air discharge system in the relation shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawings. The central pipe I8 and lateral branches I9 of the liquid discharge system are provided in their undersides withY discharge ports or openings 2i! arranged at suitably spaced intervals longitudinally of the pipe and sections.

lThe outer ends of the branch sections I9 are closed by caps or the like 2|` and, as shown in Fig. l, liquid is introduced into the pipe I8 and its branches `IQ through "an' end one of said y. branches from a liquid supply line 22 under con- 1 Atrol of a valve 23. Y

While the device may be used for the washing and cleansing of articles generally, it is especially designed for the washing and cleaning of Venetianblinds. To this end, and for supporting the individual slats of a Venetian blind in slightly spaced relation within the casing I to insure the passage and circulation of Wash liquid between adjacent slats, there is provided in the casing a plurality of racks 24 which are placed crosswise or transversely of the casing in overlying relation to the air discharge system in the bottom thereof. As shown more particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawings, these racks 24 each cornprise a base member 25 having feet26 at its opposite ends for supporting the rack above the l air discharge pipe l2, and secured in the upper surface of the base member 25 is a plurality of vertically extending pins 25a which are arranged in alignment at predetermined equally spaced intervals longitudinally of the base 25.

With respect to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is provided in the bottom of the casing I a suitable detergent is placed in the casing I and the cover 3 is closed and `tightly sealed upon the container portion 2 of the casing I by engaging the swivel bolts 8 with the plates Il) and tightening the wing nuts 9 thereon. The valve 23 may now be opened and water introduced into the pipe I8 and its branches I9 for discharge through the ports or openings 20 therein downwardly onto the Venetian blind. When the introduction of water has continued until the casing I is lled to a depth which completely submerges the pipe I2 and branches I3 of the air discharge system, air under pressure is introair supply, and the valve 29 is opened so that the wash water is drained from the casing I. During draining of the wash water from the casing, clear water is continued to be introduced into the casing from the pipe IB and its branches I9 to rinse the blind. When this has been done,

the valve'23 is closed, shutting off the water a drain opening 21 to a drain 'pipe 28 which is provided with a control valve 29, and a liquid overflow' and air pressure relief pipe 3B extends vertically upward within the casing I to a predetermined height therein as shown.

As illustrative of the operation of the apparatus for washing and cleaning a Venetian blind" assembly, a complete blind assembly, including head rail, tilt bar and slats is dismounted from the window and taken to the basement of the `building or other place where the described ap-l paratus is installed. The blind is placed in the container portion 2 of the'casing with the elements of the blind extending longitudinally therein and each individual slat a of the blind is disposed between an adjacent pair of the pins 25a on the racks 24, in the manner shown in Fig. A3 of the drawing, so that the slats a of the Venetian rblind are supported in slightly spaced relation with respect to one another to thereby insure the passage and circulation of the washing liquid through and between adjacent slats of the blind.

With a Venetian blind positioned as described,

supply, and the cover 3 may be opened and the Washed and cleaned blind removed. The' clean blind is hung in suspended relation from 'suitable racks for several hours to dry.

A modified arrangement of the water or liquid discharge system is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings wherein, in lieu of the arrangement of discharge pipes longitudinally and transversely of the underside of the cover 3 as previously described, there may be extended continuously around the upper perimeter of the portion 2 of the casing I, adjacent to the upper edge thereof, a water pipe 3| which is provided at suitably spaced intervals throughout its length with inwardly directed ports or openings 32 for discharging water or other liquid horizontally and inwardly of the casing I, the liquid being supplied to the pipe 3| from a suitable supply y pipe 33 under the control of a valve 34.

netian blinds which performs a substantially superior cleaning operation upon the blinds than it is possible to do by manually cleaning the blinds in accordance with conventional practices. vIn addition, the present invention provides a washing and cleaning apparatus having the features and advantages set. forth which isof relatively inexpensive and simplified construction, and which is both economical and efficient in operation and use.

While a particular embodiment of' the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure, and changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the following claims.

claim: .q

1. Apparatus for washing and cleaning Venetian blinds comprising-a casing, a system for introducing a liquid into said casing comprising pipe means in the upper portion of the casing provided with downwardly directed spaced apart discharge ports, an air discharge system in said casing in the lower portion thereof arranged to discharge air under pressure upwardly through said liquid from a plurality of points arranged over the area of the casing, a drain line having a valve therein connected into the bottom of the casing for drawing wash liquid therefrom, a continuously open liquid overflow and air pressure relief disposed interiorly of the casing at a predetermined height therein, and means for supporting Venetian blind slats in spaced relation in" said casing above the air discharge system therein comprising rack members disposed transversely in the casing and having means arranged for interposition between adjacent slats.

2. Apparatus for washing and cleaning Venetian blinds comprising a casing including a container and a fluid tight closure therefor, a system for introducing a liquid into said casing secured to the inside of said cover and comprising a longitudinally extending pipe and a plurality of laterally extending branches provided therein with downwardly directed spaced apart discharge ports, an air discharge system in said casing in the lower portion thereof comprising a longitudinally extending pipe and a plurality of laterally extending branches provided with upwardly directed air discharge ports, a drain line having a valve therein connected into the bottom of the casing for drawing wash liquid therefrom, a continuously open liquid overow and air pressure relief disposed interiorly of the casing at a predetermined height therein, and means for supporting Venetian blind slats in spaced relation in said casing above the air discharge vsystem therein comprising rack members disposed transversely in the casing and having means arranged for interposition between adjacent slats.

3. Apparatus for washing and cleaning Venetian blinds comprising a casing, a system for introducing a liquid into said casing comprising piping in the upper portion thereof provided With downwardly directed spaced apart discharge ports, an air discharge system in said casing in the lower portion thereof comprising piping arranged over the area of the casing and provided with upwardly directed air discharge ports, a liquid overflow and air pressure relief disposed interiorly of the casing at a predetermined height therein, and means for supporting Venetian blind slats in spaced relation in said casing above the air discharge system therein comprising rack members disposed transversely in the casing and having means projecting upwardly therefrom and arranged for interposition between adjacent slats.

WILLIAM S. DE HART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

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